Internal combustion engine

ABSTRACT

An internal combustion engine, particularly for the drive of motor vehicles, in which the lubricating oil is returned by way of a return line from one end of the cylinder head into the end of the oil sump disposed opposite to the end of the cylinder head which is provided with a collecting pot so that the lubricating oil is conducted from the cylinder head directly into the collecting pot of the oil sump.

0 United States Patent 1 1 1 3,785,457 Strauber Jan. 15, 1974 [541 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 1,200,413 10/1916 Cusick l84/6.8 1,667,728 5 1928 Fisher 184/62 [75] Invent: Simmer, Stuttgart 1,607,806 11/1926 Aland 184/65 X I Germany 1,596,828 8/1926 Guernsey 184/65 [73] Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengeselflschaft, "184/65 X stuttgart'umerturkhelm Germany 2:068:727 1/1937 Zahodiakin l84/6.5 x [221 1971 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [21] Appl. No.2 187,025 482,112 11/1916 France 184/65 30 F0 A P D t Primary Examiner-Manuel A. Antonakas 1 8'25; 2212;..T..Y,..1Z6 49 Mow-Craig 9011811181111 52 us. c1. 184/65, 123/196 R [57] I M 51 1111. C1. F0lm 1/00 Internal combusllon engme, partlcularly for the [58] Field of Search 184/62, 6.5, 6.8, drive of motor vehicles, in which the lubricating is 134/18, 123/196 R 196 Cp returned by way of areturn line from one end of the cylinder head into the end of the Oil sump disposed [56] References Cited ogipczjsite :10 theliandof the cylirtilder lhezfdbn hich is [3111?- v1 e w1t aco ectmg pot sot att e u rlcatmg 01 1s 3 56 759 PATENTS 3/196 R conducted from the cylinder head directly into the 1a au 1 2,147,405 2/1939 Horton 123/196 R collectmg pot of the ml 9 2,000,714 5/1935 Nutt l84/6.7 14 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure FRONT REAR PMENTEDJAN'S'QM 3.785.451

FRONT I REAR Accordingly, an of the present invention INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGliNlE The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine, especially to an internal combustion engine for the drive of vehicles, in which the lubricating oil is returned from the end of the cylinder head dis- .posed opposite the end of the oil sump, into the oil sump which is provided with a collecting pot.

Internal combustion engines with oil returns of this type exhibit a relatively high drag power because the oil flowing off from the cylinder head at first flows through the oil pan before it reaches the collecting pot of the oil pan. The oil level in the oil sump is not insignificantly increased by the oil flowing off from the cylinder head whose quantity may amount up to 30 percent of the total oil quantity so that the drive unit of the internal combustion engine has to produce a large oil-splashwork.

to provide an internal combustion engine which avoids by simple means the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks.

tion engine or with the arrangement of an inclined collecting channel in the cylinder head, whereby the inlet cross section of the return line 7 is disposed at the end of the cylinder head 5 which is disposed opposite the end of the oil sump 3 provided with the collecting pot 4. Although the drawing shows the oil return line 7 connected at the bottom of the hood 6, such connection can also be at the head 5 itself in engine arrangements where the oil collecting channel is formed below the hood. The return line 7 conducts the returning oil directly into the collecting pot d of the oil sump 3 so that the oil level in the oil sump 3 always remains low.

The arrangement of the return line becomes particularly advantageous when the internal combustion engine is arranged in a motor vehicle 8 inclined downward toward the rear (dash line showing) as well as during mountain drives and accelerations.

While I have shown and described only one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to those skilled-in the art and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scoope of the appended claims.

Another object of the present invention resides in an internal combustion engine, especially for driving motor vehicles, in which the drag power is decreased by reducing the oil-splash-work to be performed by the engine.

A further object of the present invention resides in an; internal combustion engine in which the amount of lu-i bricating oil flowing through the oil sump is reduced.

Another object of the present invention resides in an internal combustion engine" in which the oil level in the oil sump remains relatively low notwithstanding the return of substantial oil quantities from the cylinder head.

of an internal combustion engine in accordance with 5 the present invention. g W.

Referring now to the single FIGURE of the drawing, an oil pan or sump 3 is arranged underneath the cylinder block 2 of an internal combustion engine ll, illustrated only schematically; the oil pan 3 is provided at one end with a collecting pot 4. The cylinder head 5 with the cylinder head hood 6 is disposed above the cylinder block 2. In order to reduce the drag power of the internal combustion engine l, a return line 7 is provided for the return flow of the oil from the cylinder head 5 which can take place by pumping action or by its own gravity with an inclined installation (dash line showing at inclination angle L) of the internal combus- What I claim is:

l. An oil return arrangement for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine,

a longitudinally extending oil sump arranged underneath said engine, said oil sump including an oil collecting pot having a substantially greater depth in the downward direction than other portions of said oil sump,

and an oil return line leading directly from said cylinder head to said collecting pot in bypassing relationship to said other portions of said oil sump so as to minimize the oil level in said other portions of said oil sump with a consequent reduction in oil drag forces on moving engine parts disposed directly adjacent the oil sump.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said collecting pot is positioned adjacent a first longitudinal end of said engine, and wherein said oil return line is connected at said cylinder head adjacent a second longitudinal end of said engine opposite said first end.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said engine is mounted in a vehicle with said first end facing in the forward direction and the second end facing in a rearward direction.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein 5 said engine is inclined downwardly in a rearward direction when said vehicle isin a level position.

5. An arrangement according to claim ll, wherein all portions of said oil return line extend in a downward direction from said cylinder head to said collecting pot.

6. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein all portions of said oil return line extend in a downward direction from said cylinder'head to said collecting pot.

7. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein all portions of said oil return line extend in a downward direction from said cylinder head to said collecting pot.

3. An internal combustion engine comprising:

a cylinder head extending over an upper part of said engine,

a longitudinally extending oil sump arranged underneath said engine, said oil sump including an oil collecting pot having a substantially greater depth in the downward direction than other portions of said oil sump,

and an oil return line leading directly from said cylinder head to said collecting potin bypassing relationship to said other portions of said oil sump so as to minimize the oil level in said other portions of said oil sump with a consequent reduction in oil drag forces on moving engine parts disposed directly adjacent the oil sump.

' 9. An engine according to claim 8, wherein said collecting pot is positioned adjacent a first longitudinal end of said engine, and wherein said oil return line is connected at said cylinder head adjacent a second longitudinal end of said engine opposite said first end.

10. An engine according to claim 9, wherein said engine is mounted in a vehicle with said first end facing in the forward direction and the second end facing in a rearward direction.

11. An engine according to claim 10, wherein said engine is inclined downwardly in a rearward direction when said vehicle is in a level position.

12. An engine according to claim 8, wherein all portions of said oil return line extend in a downward direction from said cylinder head to said collecting pot.

13. An engine according to claim 9, wherein all portions of said oil return line extend in a downward direction from said cylinder head to said collecting pot.

14. An engine according to claim 11, wherein all portions of said oil return line extend in a downward direction from said cylinder head to said collecting pot. 

1. An oil return arrangement for an internal combustion engine comprising: a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, a longitudinally extending oil sump arranged underneath said engine, said oil sump including an oil collecting pot having a substantially greater depth in the downward direction than other portions of said oil sump, and an oil return line leading directly from said cylinder head to said collecting pot in bypassing relationship to said other portions of said oil sump so as to minimize the oil level in said other portions of said oil sump with a consequent reduction in oil drag forces on moving engine parts disposed directly adjacent the oil sump.
 2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said collecting pot is positioned adjacent a first longitudinal end of said engine, and wherein said oil return line is connected at said cylinder head adjacent a second longitudinal end of said engine opposite said first end.
 3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said engine is mounted in a vehicle with said first end facing in the forward direction and the second end facing in a rearward direction.
 4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said engine is inclined downwardly in a rearward direction when said vehicle is in a level position.
 5. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein all portions of said oil return line extend in a downward direction from said cylinder head to said collecting pot.
 6. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein all portions of said oil return line extend in a downward direction from said cylinder head to said collecting pot.
 7. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein all portions of said oil return line extend in a downward direction from said cylinder head to said collecting pot.
 8. An internal combustion engine comprising: a cylinder head extending over an upper part of said engine, a longitudinally extending oil sump arranged underneath said engine, said oil sump including an oil collecting pot having a substantially greater depth in the downward direction than other portions of said oil sump, and an oIl return line leading directly from said cylinder head to said collecting pot in bypassing relationship to said other portions of said oil sump so as to minimize the oil level in said other portions of said oil sump with a consequent reduction in oil drag forces on moving engine parts disposed directly adjacent the oil sump.
 9. An engine according to claim 8, wherein said collecting pot is positioned adjacent a first longitudinal end of said engine, and wherein said oil return line is connected at said cylinder head adjacent a second longitudinal end of said engine opposite said first end.
 10. An engine according to claim 9, wherein said engine is mounted in a vehicle with said first end facing in the forward direction and the second end facing in a rearward direction.
 11. An engine according to claim 10, wherein said engine is inclined downwardly in a rearward direction when said vehicle is in a level position.
 12. An engine according to claim 8, wherein all portions of said oil return line extend in a downward direction from said cylinder head to said collecting pot.
 13. An engine according to claim 9, wherein all portions of said oil return line extend in a downward direction from said cylinder head to said collecting pot.
 14. An engine according to claim 11, wherein all portions of said oil return line extend in a downward direction from said cylinder head to said collecting pot. 